Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, is leveraging strategies reminiscent of those Donald Trump used against Joe Biden, focusing on the former president’s age and fitness for the role of commander-in-chief.
Following a recent Pennsylvania town hall where Trump danced for nearly 40 minutes, Harris tweeted, “Hope he’s okay.” She also critiqued Trump’s remark about being “the father of IVF” to a female audience in Georgia, playfully questioning, “What does that even mean?” during her own rally in Wisconsin.
That same week, Harris highlighted a Politico report suggesting Trump had pulled out of interview negotiations due to “exhaustion,” asserting he lacks the stamina to serve effectively. “When he does answer questions or speak at rallies, he tends to go off-script and ramble,” she stated at an Atlanta event. She referred to Trump’s speech style as the “weave,” noting that, in her view, it often amounts to nonsense.
At 60, Harris is now questioning the competence of her 78-year-old opponent, using tactics similar to those Trump and his supporters employed against Biden—who is 81—before he suspended his campaign and endorsed Harris. For months, Trump ridiculed Biden’s age, depicting him as confused and diminished, while touting his own vigor and cognitive test results.
The Biden administration has vigorously defended the president against these attacks, even pushing back against reporters’ inquiries about his capabilities, particularly after moments that raised eyebrows, such as misnaming foreign leaders. Biden withdrew from the race in July following a poor debate performance that intensified concerns about his age.
Harris is framing Trump not just as elderly but as unstable and power-hungry, suggesting that his desire for control poses a risk to democracy and public safety. In response, Trump has dismissed her criticisms, labeling claims of his exhaustion as false and asserting that Harris lacks energy.
The Trump campaign recently mocked Harris for her lighter campaign schedule, noting that he has participated in significantly more media appearances. “The truth is President Trump has been running laps around Kamala Harris,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
A Harris campaign aide refuted the notion that they are mirroring Trump’s previous tactics, emphasizing that while Trump made unsubstantiated claims about Biden’s cognitive health, Harris is simply arguing that Trump is unfit for the presidency. They cite a lack of medical transparency from Trump and the alarming comments he’s made, along with support from Republicans who deem him a threat to democracy.
Harris’s approach also aims to provoke Trump, knowing he often responds to criticism. The Harris team sees this as a way to reclaim the narrative around age and fitness, which Trump initially established in the race.
Dan Pfeiffer, a former adviser to Barack Obama, noted that Harris’s attacks could alter public perceptions of Trump’s strength. He highlighted that Trump has made himself vulnerable not only by his age but also through his erratic behavior. “It’s enjoyable to watch him hoisted on his own petard,” Pfeiffer said.
Harris’s campaign, particularly through social media, has focused on Trump’s confusing statements and erratic speech patterns. Surrogates, including Biden, have echoed these concerns, questioning Trump’s mental stability after his unusual behavior at a town hall.
Prominent figures like Mark Cuban have criticized Trump’s policies as nonsensical, while Obama has expressed concern over Trump’s rhetoric, suggesting it would be alarming if a family member acted similarly.
To underscore her own fitness for office, Harris released a letter from her doctor describing her as mentally and physically resilient. This move was designed to contrast with Trump, who has not disclosed his medical records.
Polling on the issue reveals mixed sentiments: while voters perceive Harris as more mentally and physically fit, many still view Trump as a stronger leader. An ABC-Ipsos poll showed 48% of respondents favoring Harris for mental sharpness and 58% for physical fitness, while a Fox News poll found 55% viewing Trump as a strong leader compared to 46% for Harris.
Rich Thau, who leads focus groups with swing voters, noted that while some question Trump’s behavior and its implications, age and cognitive decline may not be their primary concerns. Instead, voters express worry about potential infringements on their rights under Trump’s leadership.
Overall, while Harris is raising questions about Trump’s fitness for office, it remains uncertain how effectively this message resonates with undecided voters, especially as his behavior has become increasingly normalized in political discourse.